Back in 1997, Gary Milliman, who at the time was Fort Bragg’s City Manager, and I were talking about a problem he was facing regarding conflicts and ethics over his involvement with the Skunk Train. I’ll skip the details but at best his actions were highly questionable. Anyway during our discussion he said that one of the major difficulties with the local governmental process was “the public’s business had to be conducted in front of the public.”
By the way, a short time following our conversation Milliman resigned his Fort Bragg post to accept the job as Skunk Train president. He would later leave the Skunk, move to Oregon and serve for many years as the City Manager in Brookings.
While others may be astonished that someone who had served as a City Manager in five cities, was Southern California’s Director for the League of California Cities, including stints as a City Council member and newspaper editor would be appalled at his “public business” comment, I was not surprised in the slightest.
Milliman’s sentiments about the public’s role in government are shared by far too many government officials. He at least was honest enough to reveal what they conceal.
Linked with the low esteem that many politicians and bureaucrats have for the citizens they’re supposed to serve is another common characteristic that I wrote about recently in the ongoing saga of Mendocino County’s Cannabis Ordinance.
What I said is there’s a reason why we are all born with two ears but just one mouth. Perhaps the Creative Force was prioritizing listening over talking. It’s difficult to hear what people are saying if you’re talking all the time. The problem with the Board of Supervisors — with the exception of the 3rd District’s John Haschak — is they don’t hear what the vast majority of residents are saying: No expansion of pot cultivation, there’s too much already.
Four Supervisors (Dan Gjerde, Glenn McGourty, Mo Mulheren, and Ted Williams) are advocating for a super-sized cultivation-economic model as they believe, and have said, that County revenues will be enhanced with expansion.
County-wide there is a super-sized majority of residents who overwhelmingly are opposed to the proposed 10 Percent Rule.
In the wake of Tuesday’s Board meeting, where the four Supervisor approved scheduling a meeting later this Summer to further amend the just amended Cannabis Ordinance, Mendo citizens immediately began responding.
Here’s a sampling of those comments.
“I have some good news. I spoke with Supervisor McGourty this afternoon. He reassured me he is still 100% for the EIR and in fact he spoke to the CEO today who confirmed that if the $18M state funding doesn’t end up working, she will find the money if the BOS votes for it. Glenn thinks the BOS will vote for it (at least a majority). And he reassured me they are not finished amending the ordinance and he fully intends to take on hoop houses and plastics. He says that may not be until August as the meeting agendas are very full. I suspect if we keep the pressure on with the referenda, they may find space for it sooner. So don’t despair but do keep pushing and stay engaged. Together we are strong!” — Sattie Clark
Responding to Clark, Jessica Harness warned, “Do not trust them, make them go on record and publish their statements. After attending many meetings, I find it hard to trust our supervisors in district 1, 2, 4 and 5 (especially Ted Williams). It totally feels like he’s bought by big cannabis corporations. John Haschak of district 3 has been standing with people all this time. I’d recall district 2: Mo Mulheren and district 5: Ted Williams”
“Why not go on record, don’t be fooled. These guys are a bunch of con artists.” — John King
“John Haschak has been great. He comes to town, attends our MAC meetings, and set up three scholarships with the raise the other supervisors voted for themselves. He is the only one to stand up to the reckless pressures of the expansion myth.” — Dee Mullen
“The BOS are not con artists… they are politicians. They do what politicians do, just like bankers do what bankers do and cats do what cats do.” — Sonic
“Exactly, I have heard the same thing. The current ordinance places the whole burden on the applicant which it never intended to do. I think it may be prudent to step aside from a place of sheer anger by trying to teach the BOS a lesson and critically think through the all the ramifications and keep the end goal in mind.” — J. Roberts
“What is the link to the final version of the ordinance? I don’t know how to find it in the County of Mendocino webpage. Are we all in for starting to gather signatures? Has the referendum final language been drafted and copies of (Small Is Beautiful Mendocino) petitions printed? Send me a PDF of the petition and I can print some out and start RIGHT NOW getting signatures if we are ready. I am also up for helping get petition signatures for the SOWWW petition. People I know would sign both to get them on the ballot for the special election.” —L. Chichester
“The Supervisors haven’t listened to we the people from the beginning of this blatant attempt to force us to swallow this plan to let outsiders take over this beautiful place we all call home. Shame on them for treating us so shabbily as if we don’t exist and don’t value our thoughts, natural resources and especially water. Nobody in my family has ever grown marijuana. But we believe it must be kept on the small scale so it can be controlled to everyone’s benefit.” -Maryanne Tremaine
Well that’s this week’s installment.
Anybody listening in the County Seat?
(Jim Shields is the Mendocino County Observer’s editor and publisher, observer@pacific.net, and is also the long-time district manager of the Laytonville County Water District. Listen to his radio program “This and That” every Saturday at noon on KPFN 105.1 FM, also streamed live: http://www.kpfn.org.)
Be First to Comment